SSTAR recognized for jobs-to-career program

Tuesday

May 31, 2011 at 12:37 PM

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Fall River addiction treatment center, SSTAR, was recently awarded the prestigious Behavioral Health Pacesetter Award for its Jobs to Careers program. The award was made by the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce in partnership with the Hitachi Foundation.

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Fall River addiction treatment center, SSTAR, was recently awarded the prestigious Behavioral Health Pacesetter Award for its Jobs to Careers program. The award was made by the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce in partnership with the Hitachi Foundation.

SSTAR's program provided 17 entry-level employees with intensive on-site training and college credits through Bristol Community College to gain credentials needed to advance in their careers as drug and alcohol addiction counselors.

The experience also provided employees with the confidence many needed to return to school and complete GED's, bachelor's degrees and even masters degrees; and to contribute to the development of new programs at SSTAR.

"We are particularly proud of this award, and our work with the Jobs To Careers program due to its relevance in the context of the economic crisis," said Nancy Paull, CEO of SSTAR. "Many participants had low levels of education and basic skill levels which would never have allowed them to advance in the current job market. The program helped them prove they could do anything they put their minds to. The experience taught us valuable lessons we now share with other organizations."

SSTAR was one of five organizations selected for this award. The organization was chosen from among a pool of 51 applicants.

The award honors organizations that help promote a business model for supporting front line staff providing vital services to care for people with psychiatric or substance use issues.

"The honorees of the 2011 Behavioral Health Pacesetter Award exemplify outstanding and innovative workforce practices in the behavioral healthcare field," said John Morris, executive director, Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce.